An Algerian Flyssa-Nimcha Combo

[CharlesS]

Here is a rather unusual example for reference of what appears to be a 'fat bellied' Algerian flyssa blade with a Moroccan nimcha style hilt of horn. The odd combination is very well balanced and handles well. The sword is 31.5in. long overall, with a 24.5in blade displaying typical nimcha style motifs.
The scabbard appears to go with it and is a good fit, but it clearly is from something else. Note the baldric rings would potentially interfere with the downturned guard. The fittings are machined and screwed into place.

I love cross cultural pieces, and this one clearly is an interesting example of just that.

[laEspadaAncha]

So this is what happens when a flyssa and a nimcha go out drinking together at night...

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by laEspadaAncha

So this is what happens when a flyssa and a nimcha go out drinking together at night...

Indeed and they are also found with traditional Nimcha swords in Flyssa timber scabbards......

[CharlesS]

Originally Posted by laEspadaAncha

So this is what happens when a flyssa and a nimcha go out drinking together at night...

[Battara]

Well holy snot! Never seen this before but I LIKE IT!

[eftihis]

Actually the combination is a Nimcha hilt with an older type yataghan blade, with flyssa type of decoration.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by eftihis

Actually the combination is a Nimcha hilt with an older type yataghan blade, with flyssa type of decoration.

Actually this is a perfect example of the profound influence of these earlier yataghan blades in the advent of the 'flyssa' with the Kabyles. Although the Kabyles remained autonomous from the suzerainty of the Ottomans, they were keenly aware and envious of the yataghan, and in my personal opinion the flyssa developed as a local version of these blades with certain other influences added. The hilt is a matter of considerable debate as to what zoomorphic creature is represented.

The linear motif and other decoration is typically folk religion oriented geometrics such as the 'fibula' (triangles) and other decoration seems almost Byzantine in style. While most of the linear decoration seems subtly the same, the other motif often is variably nuanced (much described in LaCoste and Holstein).

The sword was a traditional 'rite of passage' for young Kabyle men and while the flyssa was of course the traditional style, the Ottoman yataghan was as noted extremely favored. The Moroccan sa'if (now termed usually 'nimcha') was well known in Algerian regions as well as its more familiar regions in Morocco.
While of course inclined to consider this normally incongruous pairing of flyssa type blade with the 'nimcha' hilt as the work of industrious 'souk people' , it also seems quite possible that heirloom components may have been assembled toward this rite of passage for a young tribesman.

Fascinating hybrid and good for notes of those focused on these weapons as yet another variant in the groupings of both 'nimcha' and flyssas.